Garmin StreetPilot C330 GPS Battery

StreetPilot C330 will shut down during operation for no reason and/or will freeze during operation. Updated the software on the device which appeared to correct the problem; however, the problem is back after about 2-3 months worth of problem free operation. StreetPilot C330 will shut down during operation for no reason and/or will freeze during operation. Updated the software on the device which appeared to correct the problem; however, the problem is back after about 2-3 months worth of problem free operation.

My Garmin will not turn on either alone or plugged into the car adapter
My Garmin will not turn on either alone or plugged into the car adapter

I get the message "low battery" when I'm driving a short time although immediately before when charging the battery via the computer, the message was Charging complete. I get the message "low battery" when I'm driving a short time although immediately before when charging the battery via the computer, the message was Charging complete.

A friend has the Garmin C330, and the battery does not work, but the unit still works when plugged into the car via cigarette lighter adapter. I am an electronics Technician, so I told her I would have a look at it to see if it can be fixed.

The unit is only one year old, The battery stropped working at 6 months of use.

Upon disassembly and examination of the internals of the unit, I have come to the following conclusions:



1. The battery is a special Lithium Polymer battery, and is NOT a standard sized battery like a "AA" Sized battery. It must be a special type of battery available (maybe) only to electronics manufacturers, or maybe only to Garmin. This would not be unusual, as it would force you to return the unit to Garmin for repair.



2. The unit says it is charging the battery when its plugged in, but never takes a charge.



3. The battery has a special switch or "thermal fuse" built into it and shrink wrapped to the battery that opens or "blows" when shorted or when the battery overheats from charging.



4. Either the curcuit board that houses the display has a "pico fuse", which is a tiny fuse smaller than a grain of rice, that is blown, and this is the circuit that controls the battery charging that is not working - OR - the thermal fuse on the battery itself is blown, either way you get a battery that will not take a charge. The charging circuit is blown or the battery is bad so the battery thermal switch blew out, either way its a manufacturing or design defect.



5. The cigarette lighter adapter that I was given along with the unit is a type I have seen before at work, it has a VERY LARGE metal end on it, too large in my opinion to do an effective job of powering ANYTHING without the possability of shorting itself out inside of the socket it is plugged into. This also may cause the GPS to short out internally if you blow the fuse located inside the plug itself while you plug it into the lighter socket. The voltage crossing, and the surge that blows the fuse could easily damage the unit itself.



I myself cut these lighter adaptors off and throw them away anytime I find them on a device that will be plugged into a cigarette lighter, such as a GPS unit, Video Display, DVD Player, in car Portable Entertainment systems, Etc.

I install a brand new plug of a different design that does not have a hot end the size of a quarter that is supposed to make contact with the hot wire inside a cigarette lighter socket that is half the size of a pencil eraser. It has an internal fuse just like the units that come with the GPS and other electronics devices, but only has a SMALL button on the end, this type of plug is not prone to shorting like the big honking one from the Garmin that will short out just by wiggling it or inserting it even a small angle into the lighter socket.



I think the design, and the device itself is defective. Write a letter to Garmin asking for a resolution to this problem, and also send a copy to the Better Buisness Bureau, and the Consumer Product Protection Agency. Either they will (Garmin) will replace the unit, or will be forced to issue a recall and replace the unit, especially if enough people complain to the right people in Washington. Either way, it is a problem only Garmin can fix. A friend has the Garmin C330, and the battery does not work, but the unit still works when plugged into the car via cigarette lighter adapter. I am an electronics Technician, so I told her I would have a look at it to see if it can be fixed.
The unit is only one year old, The battery stropped working at 6 months of use.
Upon disassembly and examination of the internals of the unit, I have come to the following conclusions:

1. The battery is a special Lithium Polymer battery, and is NOT a standard sized battery like a "AA" Sized battery. It must be a special type of battery available (maybe) only to electronics manufacturers, or maybe only to Garmin. This would not be unusual, as it would force you to return the unit to Garmin for repair.

2. The unit says it is charging the battery when its plugged in, but never takes a charge.

3. The battery has a special switch or "thermal fuse" built into it and shrink wrapped to the battery that opens or "blows" when shorted or when the battery overheats from charging.

4. Either the curcuit board that houses the display has a "pico fuse", which is a tiny fuse smaller than a grain of rice, that is blown, and this is the circuit that controls the battery charging that is not working - OR - the thermal fuse on the battery itself is blown, either way you get a battery that will not take a charge. The charging circuit is blown or the battery is bad so the battery thermal switch blew out, either way its a manufacturing or design defect.

5. The cigarette lighter adapter that I was given along with the unit is a type I have seen before at work, it has a VERY LARGE metal end on it, too large in my opinion to do an effective job of powering ANYTHING without the possability of shorting itself out inside of the socket it is plugged into. This also may cause the GPS to short out internally if you blow the fuse located inside the plug itself while you plug it into the lighter socket. The voltage crossing, and the surge that blows the fuse could easily damage the unit itself.

I myself cut these lighter adaptors off and throw them away anytime I find them on a device that will be plugged into a cigarette lighter, such as a GPS unit, Video Display, DVD Player, in car Portable Entertainment systems, Etc.
I install a brand new plug of a different design that does not have a hot end the size of a quarter that is supposed to make contact with the hot wire inside a cigarette lighter socket that is half the size of a pencil eraser. It has an internal fuse just like the units that come with the GPS and other electronics devices, but only has a SMALL button on the end, this type of plug is not prone to shorting like the big honking one from the Garmin that will short out just by wiggling it or inserting it even a small angle into the lighter socket.

I think the design, and the device itself is defective. Write a letter to Garmin asking for a resolution to this problem, and also send a copy to the Better Buisness Bureau, and the Consumer Product Protection Agency. Either they will (Garmin) will replace the unit, or will be forced to issue a recall and replace the unit, especially if enough people complain to the right people in Washington. Either way, it is a problem only Garmin can fix.

My Garmin c330 will not hold a chrage. How do I replace the battery? My Garmin c330 will not hold a chrage. How do I replace the battery?

My GPS turns on for a brief second and then shuts off. I've reset it,but it does not resolve. My GPS turns on for a brief second and then shuts off. I've reset it,but it does not resolve.

I have the same problem...it turn on for a second, then turns itself off. I have the same problem...it turn on for a second, then turns itself off.

unit will not turn on and i can't find where the battery is. unit will not turn on and i can't find where the battery is.

I was driving and the gps just turn off. Now it does not want to turn on. I think is the battery, and that it hold to much heat. What can i do to fix it? Where is the battery? I was driving and the gps just turn off. Now it does not want to turn on. I think is the battery, and that it hold to much heat. What can i do to fix it? Where is the battery?

Battery is dead. Alos purchased in September of 2007 and it no longer takes a charge from the car. Battery is dead. Alos purchased in September of 2007 and it no longer takes a charge from the car.